Man accused of killing teen who protected mother in Subway robbery turns self in

HOUSTON – The man wanted on charges of killing an 18-year-old restaurant worker surrendered to Houston police Friday afternoon. Jeffrey Archangel, 25, is charged with killing Javier Flores during the robbery of a Subway in February.

Archangel was expected to appear in court Sunday but was a no-show. Despite his absence, he was denied bond.

Flores died while protecting his mother, who worked with her son at the restaurant.

"Sending my utmost condolences," Archangel said as he walked into Houston Police Department headquarters.

Community activist Quanell X orchestrated Archangel's surrender. After his surrender, Quanell said Archangel claims to be innocent and even claims to have an audio recording of the real killer confessing.

[WATCH: HPD Chief Art Acevedo gives update after accused Subway killer is charged]

"Gave explicit details of how it happened and what happened," Quannel X said in reference to the audio recording.

Quanell X said he has a copy of the recording and will hand it over to police and the Harris County District Attorney's Office. He declined to allow members of the media to hear the recording.

"Now that's for law enforcement to sort through. That's for law enforcement to handle," he said.

Quanell X said Archangel also claims to have been at a recording studio when Flores was murdered.

Quanell X says he knows who really killed Javier and has evidence to prove it.%INLINE%

However, HPD Chief Art Acevedo, however, said he is confident police have the right man. The chief said witnesses identified Archangel as being involved in Flores' murder as well as the robbery of another Subway the same night.

Acevedo said police also found the weapon used to kill Flores during a search of Archangel's apartment.

"We have good witnesses. We've got good ballistics. We've got the murder weapon. And let's face it, you don't go to prison very often and find people saying, 'Yeah, I did it,'" said Acevedo.

Archangel was charged last month with that second Subway robbery and released on bond. A second person involved in these crimes is still on the run.

Hilda Vasquez held back tears as she talked about her son and the day he died in front of her inside the Subway restaurant on Broadway Street.

"I was there and I know who did it," Vasquez said.

Flores took a bullet to protect his mother.

Since that day, police have been searching for his killer.

Friday afternoon, Archangel turned himself into police.

Vasquez said she was able to identify him and will never forget his face or what he was wearing.

"I described them first, exactly what they were wearing," she said. "The sweater, the hoodies the black pants."

Police arrested Archangel last month and charged him in connection to the other Subway robbery, but he was later released on bond.

Archangel claims he wasn't present during the Broadway robbery, but Vasquez insists he was.

"I just want justice for my son. That's all, it's not going to bring him back but it's all in God's hands," she said.

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About the Authors:

Award winning investigative journalist who joined KPRC 2 in July 2000. Husband and father of the Master of Disaster and Chaos Gremlin. “I don’t drink coffee to wake up, I wake up to drink coffee.”